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My 409/'55 Chevy Project

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  • My 409/'55 Chevy Project

    Well I've got some time to start my project thread.
    The car...'55 Chevy post.
    This is a dream build for me, one I've wanted to do since I was 17.

    The engine.......vintage Chevy 409. It's a truck block which is the
    more desirable block to have for building. It has the extra large notch which
    the car blocks do not have.

    Currently the engine is at machine shop being bored and fitted
    with 4 bolt main caps from Pro Gram Engineering.
    Looks like we'll end up with about 478 ci.

    Originally 409's came with a 3 1/2" throw.....Cali is putting a rotating assembly
    together for us with a 4" throw (bascially a big block) w/Diamond pistons.

    Other components include Edlebrock aluminum heads and dual quad intake.
    A Comp solid roller cam is planned.
    Richmond 5 Speed and hopefully set of headers from Earle Williams.

    I'll post more as we move forward.

    My '55 Chevy from 1968


    My current '55 post



    Vintage Sun tach mock up


    Motor being delivered to shop


    Motor delivered


    Trick aluminum oil pan from Stef




    Thom

    "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."

  • #2
    Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

    That motor looks brand spankin new! Where did you get it? What is the idea for the paint/body final look?

    You will here this a lot but......... nice car.

    Steve
    Well I have stopped buying stuff for cars I don't own. Is that a step in the right or wrong direction?

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

      Originally posted by rightpedal
      That motor looks brand spankin new! Where did you get it? What is the idea for the paint/body final look?

      You will here this a lot but......... nice car.

      Steve
      Well, there is a story behind the motor.

      It was sitting in the corner at my buddy's engine shop........same guy who built
      my 427.
      I inquired about it one day on a visit.

      Turns out he did a 348 build for someone who needed some heads, so the buy purchased this 409
      for the heads. Left the engine. ???

      The engine came out of a truck being used at a salvage yard.
      It had the large external 2 quart oil bath and governed carb.
      Since it already was a low compression motor........it was in great shape.
      You could tell it was serviced on a regular basis.
      The oil pan was mint.

      Anyway he sold it to me for $500........ ;D

      Rest is history.

      Right now plans are to leave car in current paint.....hot rod primer grey.......it does have
      sort of a finish to it.
      The interior is being done like the Blair Speed Shop car...notched seat and all.
      Here's some pics to give you and idea the direction I'm headed.





      Thom

      "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

        great car! with all the newly available W-motor components, they'll hopefully start getting the deserved attention for performance- aside from being one of the top 10 "best-looking" engines.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

          Originally posted by furyjim
          great car! with all the newly available W-motor components, they'll hopefully start getting the deserved attention for performance- aside from being one of the top 10 "best-looking" engines.
          One of the most need parts for a 409/ tri 5 install are headers.

          I spoke with Earle Williams a few weeks back and looks like he's going to
          have a set available soon. This is huge.
          Lots of 409 headers available but none for the tri 5 crowd.

          I had two W motors back in the 60's.........the '55 Chevy was a tri powered 348.

          This '59 Chevy ragtop started out with a 283.......my buddies and I transplanted
          a 348, out of a wrecked '58 Impala, over the weekend.
          Chrome reverse compliments of Sears.

          I've always wanted another W motor.


          Thom

          "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

            Brother Monk....

            Seeing the pics of the new "project" gives me thoughts of violent 1-2 shifts, tires sreaming in agony, and an otherworldly howl from under the hood.

            Sound about right to you?

            Smoke

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

              neat! you're gonna wait until you have the headers before you do the mounts, right?

              Might see about angling the shifter lever forward a bit at the top, I drove a 57 with a notched seat and 5 speed and it was really uncomfortable because the knob was too far back.
              My fabulous web page

              "If it don't go, chrome it!" --Stroker McGurk

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                mmmmm 409

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                  What a great build...
                  Doing it all wrong since 1966

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                    Great project and one of my favorite combo's. You will be living a few guy's dream's with this build. But I want to kick myself everytime I see a 55 post. Just a few short 6 or 7 years ago I scored a rolling body with a good roof and floorboard, fiberglass frontend and doors with a wagon parts car, 400.00 Sold it for the same when I built my shop, almost had to beg the guy to take it. I know someday there will be another. Good Luck and keep us posted.
                    61 Olds 88, 69 Plymouth Roadrunner, 68 Pontiac Firebird, 95 Buick Roadmaster LT1

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                      Cool Project.
                      this is the ONLY way I would ever build a 55. ;)
                      I wasn't around at the time, but for those that were please educate us youngsters.

                      In the early 60's, a shoe-box with a built 409 would have been damn near the meanest street racer that could be built correct?
                      Also curious what, in that same early 60's time period, would have been it's competition; Mopar with a 413 or an early Hemi?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project


                        Heads arrived today
                        Edelbrocks New 409 Aluminum Heads





                        Tore down the rear seats to send out to upholstery shop
                        Still had some good bones left to 'em


                        Thom

                        "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                          Originally posted by mike343sharpstick
                          Cool Project.
                          this is the ONLY way I would ever build a 55. ;)
                          I wasn't around at the time, but for those that were please educate us youngsters.

                          In the early 60's, a shoe-box with a built 409 would have been damn near the meanest street racer that could be built correct?
                          Also curious what, in that same early 60's time period, would have been it's competition; Mopar with a 413 or an early Hemi?
                          Actually lot of the guys in my neck of the woods ran 348's.
                          One guy I know of.....old Louis Oswald........had a beater '55 post with a 409, ran
                          like a scalded cat.

                          Most of us considered ourselves lucky if we had a 283 or a 327.
                          Thom

                          "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                            Originally posted by jays67
                            mmmmm 409
                            mmmmm scalded cat.

                            Steve
                            Well I have stopped buying stuff for cars I don't own. Is that a step in the right or wrong direction?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: My 409/'55 Chevy Project

                              what is the trans plan ? a muncie may not be up to the torque

                              Comment

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